In this work an alternative process for the obtention of acetaldehyde is presented. It is based on the oxidation of ethyl alcohol over commercial Fe-Mo catalyst. Experimental kinetic data, obtained in an integral reactor, were interpreted by a Temkin's type mechanism, although it is possible to treat the data by a known mechanism similar to the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. A new multitubular reactor is then proposed with the obtained rate equation. It is baffled but windowless, so that better temperature control is achieved when compared with conventional reactors. The process considered here exhibits better performance than the best known processes in terms of higher conversions, stability and yield in acetaldehyde. © 1992.479-1125712576Day, Oxidation of ethyl-alcohol (1931) Journal of Physical Chemistry, 35, pp. 9272-9279Dente, Poppi, Pasquon, Cinetica dell'ossidazione del metanolo a formaldeide con catalizzatore a base di ossidi di Fe e Mo (1964) La Chimica e I'Industria, 46 (11), pp. 1326-1336Domingues, Modelagem do Processo de Oxidação do Etanol a Acetaldeído (1992) Tese de Mestrado, UNICAMP, FEQ/DPQ/LOPCA, , Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, in preparationFroment, Bischoff, (1990) Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design, , 2nd edition, John Wiley & SonsMaciel Filho, Oxidação Catalítica de Etanol a Acetaldeído sobre Catalisador de Ferro Molibdênio (1985) Tese de Mestrado 069/85, , UNICAMP, FEC/DEQ, Campinas, Sao Paulo, BrasilMaciel Filho, Modelling and Control of Multitubular Reactors (1989) PhD Thesis, , Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Leeds, Leeds England, UKMaciel Filho, Domingues, Modelagem Detalhada de Reator de Leito Fixo para conversão de Etanol a Acetaldeído (1991) XIX ENEMP - Encontro Nacional Sobre escoamento em Meios porosos, , UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, BrasilMcGreavy, Maciel Filho, Insights on Temperature sensor Location in Multitubular Reactors (1989) Computer Integrated Process Engineering, , Institution of Chemical Engineers, Leeds, EnglandMcGreavy, Maciel Filho, Dynamic Behaviour of Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactors (1989) IFAC-Symposium on Dynamics and Control of Chemical Reactors, Distillation Columns and batch Processes, , The NetherlandsMoura, Oxidação do Etanol a Acetaldeído sobre Catalisador de Cobre Oxidado (1984) Tese de Duotorado 04/84, , UNICAMP, FEC/DEM, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil